A BIKER who lost his leg in a horrific road smash is to ride more than 9,000 miles across America for charity.

Duncan `Saf' Lawson, 42, from Leigh, is to begin his two-and-a-half month journey from Boston to Seattle in June.

He will ride alone on an Italian Cagiver Xtra Raptor bike, which he has painstakingly converted into a three-wheeler.

The web designer said: "This is something I have wanted to do for years.

"A friend of mine went on a round-the-world trip for six months and made me really jealous when he came back. It became a bit of a joke with me saying I was going to set off on my trike.

"Then one day, I just thought, why not?"

Skidded

Duncan was injured in an accident 20 years ago. As he took a corner, he hit a patch of mud and skidded underneath a lorry. He lost one leg and badly damaged the other and his arm.

He does have a metal leg, but hasn't decided whether to take it with him to the States.

"I used to wear it night and day so that even people who had known me for 10 years didn't know I had it, but I had a fall a few years ago and since then I can only wear it for a few hours at a time.

"It's more comfortable to ride without it, so it could end up being luggage I don't need.

"I might end up leaving it behind in the crate. It has been on a few adventures before though. One time it ended up on stage with Jethro Tull."

Duncan is looking for sponsors to help raise money for his chosen charities which are the Samaritans; Riders for Health, which helps those in need in Africa; the National Association for Bikers with a Disability; the National Aids Trust and the Motorcycle Action Group Foundation, which works to promote safety on the roads.